AU Center Grid coaches pleased with spring drills

By Hal Lamar |
5/30/2014, 12:49 p.m.

CAU Head Coach Kevin Weston, beginning his second season, is pleased as punch that six of his 10 games this coming grid season will be at home.

Both head football coaches for the Clark Atlanta University Panthers and the Morehouse College Maroon Tigers are pleased with the outcome of their recent spring drills and confident that the talent they retained plus the recruits they are bringing in will help to improve their 2014 campaigns over last years’.

CAU Head Coach Kevin Weston, beginning his second season, is pleased as punch that six of his 10 games this coming grid season will be at home. Most of his 2013 team which was predominate with freshmen is returning with a sprinkle of juniors and seniors. Returnees to watch for include quarterback Trenton Earl, second team all-conference running back Montavious Taylor and first team all-conference linebacker Bre’nard Williams (junior). The Panther elevens are scheduled to open September 6 on the road against Central State.

Morehouse Head Coach Richard Freeman says overall he was pleased with the Maroon Tiger spring drills. Though some of his players were sidelined principally because of the school’s strict academic policies, he said it did give him and staff a chance to see more of those who were allowed on the grid and especially at the skill spots. He is returning three quarterbacks and seems especially impressed with sophomore Montvavious Johnson of Decatur, Ga.

Although the school hadn’t planned to play him until this year, injuries to other signal callers forced Freeman to send him in prematurely, a decision he says he doesn’t regret.

“He started in the Lane game,” Freeman told The Atlanta Voice. And since then, he hasn’t looked back.”

He is also happy to get running back Shelton Hamilton back after an injury last year left the Montgomery, Al. native sidelined for most of 2013. “He’s told me this year he’s 100 percent and ready to roll,” said Freeman. “The last two losing seasons we’ve had was a wake-up call for all of us, coaches, staff and players, “he added. “ We got a bit soft with all those previous winning seasons. We are ready again.”

XTRA POINTS: Last season there was a lot of grumbling about Morehouse and Clark Atlanta holding their homecoming on the same day. But the shot callers at both school met and everything worked out. There will be no dueling homecomings this year but both teams will be hosting an opponent. Morehouse will play Albany State Rams at 2 p.m. CAU will host Benedict…After a season from injury after being cut by the Baltimore Ravens, former Morehouse down lineman Ramone Harewood was picked up on waivers by the Denver Broncos….Tiger coach Freeman has added former Concordia College head coach Shepherd Skanes as the team’s running backs coach…Morehouse’s 2014 schedule will be a challenge. Seven of their 10 games will be on the road. In fact, the hometowners won’t get to see a game at B.T. Harvey Stadium until homecoming, October 18 against Albany State…CAU no longer needs to continue the search for a head basketball coach. They already have their candidate in interim coach Tony Lamarr. He took over a team practically in shambles after the 2012-13 season and led them to a winning 15-12 season which included a 10-7 mark in the SIAC…The school is still in the hunt for an athletic director. Any takers? Contact the school…The SIAC will once more rule the roost at the annual grid “do” the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis. Kentucky State University will throw down against the Marauders of Central State, new coach and all, October 4th…Former Alabama A&M head coach Anthony Jones is now an assistant at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff...Former Lincoln University (Missouri) head coach Jack Bush has rejoined his ex- boss Rick Comegy at Mississippi Valley State.